The Iron Range Club of the CPUSA had an educational concerning articles and editorials in our press on election issues: the PWW and PA.
After a lively two hour discussion led by our Club's Educational Director, Denise Lehtinen, we concluded that there is far too much in our press that is vague and non-specific.
We think this editorial provides a perfect example of what is wrong. Noted in the article is support for a call from the Obama campaign for people to participate in the platform process of the Democratic Party.
Not once has the PWW, PA, the CPUSA website or blogs provided concrete examples of platform resolutions.
One prominent MN DFL activist and member of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party State Central Committee, Alan Maki, was successful in gaining support for three resolutions earlier this year concerning saving the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant which means protecting jobs here on the Iron Range, too. Not one word in the PWW, PA or on the CPUSA web site. We ask: Why not?
Maki was also the principal proponent and author of the resolution on single-payer universal health care which was overwhelmingly approved by the State Convention of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party; now part of the DFL platform known as the "Action Agenda." Again, no mention in our press. Even this editorial refers to "affordable health care;" whatever this means.
Maki was the author of a resolution on ending the war in Iraq which received majority support by the MN DFL State Convention delegates but failed to garner the necessary threshold to become part of the MN DFL Platform.
Several of our Club members were delegates to the conventions where these platform issues came up for debate.
We made two primary observations during our Club educational:
1.) Our press and publications did not cover these debates and resolutions which are models of exemplary leadership when it comes to bringing working class issues into the Democratic Party. Or any other party, including our own Party;
2.) There is a huge problem when the PWW editorializes for citizen participation in the platform process but provides no concrete examples for us to work with. Using the writings of Gus Hall, Marx and Lenin to guide our Club discussion we came to the conclusion this presents a major problem.
Why is there no guide to action on the very issues our leadership and editorial writers correctly say we need to become involved in?
In this case the editorial calls for citizen participation in the platform process. Great!
Shouldn't this edition of the PWW where this editorial appeared have provided us with examples of numerous resolutions we could be submitting from all over the country?
During our Club's educational we found members were divided among whom they were supporting for president. This is something we should not find surprising because because none of the candidates or parties have what can be called clearly working class agendas and platforms.
The majority of the members of our Club are for Obama. Some for McKinney and Nader. We have not seen this as a problem as some in our National leadership seem to make it out to be.
The real problem is that our National leadership and our publications have not provided leadership on the issues; on the issues our Party should be united in pushing for progressive platforms in all the campaigns. We want to see the working class united on issues not around personalities unless those personalities are clearly linked to a solid working class platform. The issues are of greater importance than individual candidates where the working class struggle is concerned.
This editorial (see below) states:
"Barack Obama’s message of change, unity and hope – in short, a new vision for America — has important democratic and class dimensions that, if reflected in the platform, could energize millions of people to not only vote but also participate in making that vision a reality."
Unless clearly defined by way of platform resolutions there is no real "vision" of anything coming from Obama. Without a progressive working class platform there is empty rhetoric with no class dimensions.
"If reflected in the platform" is a very big "if." If not from our Party, where will this "class dimension" for the platform come from?
A very serious weakness in our Party has been exposed all throughout this campaign and has yet to be rectified. First there was open support for Obama. Then the Party leadership stated non-endorsement of any candidate. Our publications go on endorsing Obama to the exclusion of bringing forward working class issues.
This editorial from the PWW should be reprinted in an upcoming issue. This time with references to specific platform resolutions. There should be coverage in the PWW of how our Party is participating in this call from the Obama campaign for citizens to become part of the process for change.
Iron Range Club of the Communist Party USA
Aaron Street aaron.street@gmail.com SD61 mydflEDITORIAL: A ‘Change America’ platform
Under the title “Listening to America,” the Obama campaign issued an open invitation to voters to organize meetings in their homes, union halls, churches and schools this month to discuss what planks should be added to a 2008 “Platform for Change.” In the past, the Democratic Party platform was written by “paid professionals,” the call said. “This year, that’s going to change.”
Most times these platforms are sterile documents to which hardly anyone pays attention. Barack Obama’s message of change, unity and hope – in short, a new vision for America — has important democratic and class dimensions that, if reflected in the platform, could energize millions of people to not only vote but also participate in making that vision a reality.
After eight long years of extreme right-wing rule, the country is hungry for change.
The stark reality of economic insecurity hitting millions of Americans, while the wealth gap grows between the super-rich and everybody else, cries out for redress. A platform for change needs to come down squarely on the side of working-class families.
Certainly a top priority is national investment in job creation — meaningful, necessary jobs like rebuilding schools, parks, bridges and water systems, expanding mass transit and tackling the 21st century environmental and energy challenges, with livable wages, collective bargaining rights, and priority to the hardest hit communities.
Affordable, universal health care, protection and expansion of Social Security and investment in quality public education are also steps in the right direction.
Global problems such as terrorism, poverty, trade issues, climate change and pandemics all need international cooperation that puts people first, not belligerence, “shoot first, ask questions later” and unilateralism. A new vision for America has to put our foreign policy firmly on the side of peace and respect for human rights, worker rights and national sovereignty. That means a speedy withdrawal from Iraq, and de-escalating other conflicts in the Middle East and Asia.
Americans want a government that is really of, for and by the people. A new vision for America must restore democratic Constitutional protections so badly trampled by the Bush administration, and expand hard-won civil liberties and rights. And it must move to curb the rampage of unbridled corporate greed.
That’s a platform for change.
Adam Duininck duin0005@umn.edu Director godspeedyourmusictome
Adam Prock adamp@callmeyer.com SD56 adam_prock
Al Juhnke rep.al.juhnke@house.mn Elected/13A aljuhnke
Al Patton pattonaw@charter.net SEC/Finance
Al Uhl awuhl@msn.com SD65 aluhlsr
Alan Maki amaki000@centurytel.net Roseau
Alex Bajwa abajwa01@hamline.edu SD47 alex_bajwa
Alex Cutler cutler@stolaf.edu SD60 wheresthemind
Alexander Falconer falconera@dnc.org Field Organizer alexanderfalconer625
Allison Myhre ajmyhre@prtel.com Staff - field organizer allison_myhre
Amanda Tempel atempel@visi.com CD5 earthabunny
Amy Beckes amybeckes@gmail.com SD59 ab1414
Andy Hauer andyhauer@yahoo.com SD58
Andy O'Leary aoleary@dfl.org Staff/Executive Director
Ann Darby darbyanna2@juno.com CD7 anndrby
Ann Friedrich annfriedrich@msn.com SD62 annfriedrich
Ann Lenczewski lenczewski@aol.com Elected 40B
Ann White awhitepho@msn.com SD64 awhitepho2002
Ardis Wexler judgeardis@aol.com SD41
Beth Lareau beth@lareau.org (CD4) bethlareau
Betsy O'Berry betsyo@visi.com Director
Betty Cozatt eacozatt@aol.com SD45 libbyanne47
Betty Folliard bfolliard@strategypartners.biz SD45 b_folliard
Bill Davis billdavisdfl@msn.com Treasurer billdavisdfl
Bob Coombs recinvst@aol.com SD45
Bonnie Jude jude_bonnie@yahoo.com SD46 jude_bonnie
Bradley Gess bpgess@yahoo.com SD62 bpgess
Brett Buckner brettbuckner@yahoo.com Staff/CD5 Field Director brettbuckner
Brian Bergson quayle01@usinternet.com SD64 adphimn
Brian Melendez brian.melendez@usa.net Chair brian_melendez
Brian Wojtalewitz brian@wojtalewiczlawfirm.com SD20 bwojtalewicz
Bridget Cusick bcusick2004@yahoo.com SD63 bcusick2004
Buzz Snyder snyderbuzz@yahoo.com SD14 snyderbuzz
Carl/Diann Halverson chalvers@pro-ns.net SD48
Carol Woehrer sussk001@tc.umn.edu CD3 carolwoehrer
Cary Coop coop071585 CU25 coop071585
Catherine Dorr cad1951mn@yahoo.com SD59 cad1951mn
Charles Wilson chasmn@hotmail.com SD61 wilsoncharless
Charlie Underwood charleyunderwood@hotmail.com SD62 testimony4peace
Cheryl Gunvalson cgunval@gvtel.com Clearwater
Cheryl Poling chpoling@comcast.net SD42 cherylpoling
Chris Dykstra duckstrap@yahoo.com (SD19) duckstrap
Chris Yard chris.yardmn@gmail.com Winona
Clare Sorman clare_sorman@yahoo.com SD59
Colleen Clark clclark@charter.net Goodhue colleen_2124
Cynthia Andersen cyndym1617@msn.com SD17
Dan Brown dpbrown@pressenter.com SD64 daniel_p_brown
Dan DuHamel dduhamel@mn.rr.com SD59 djd3137
Dan McConnell dan@danmcc.com SD62 danmccmn
Dan Weinand dweinand@gmail.com Director rad_mongoose
Darren Tobolt darrentobolt@yahoo.com SD65 darrentobolt
Dave Lee chair@cd5.dfl.org CD5 cleemn
David Bly davidhbly@yahoo.com Elected/25B davidhbly
David Cohoes david.cohoes@comcast.net SD44 dist442002
David Kaplan dkaplan@dfl.org Staff dkaplan76
David Strand/Cordy Strand dlstrand@msn.com Aitkin dflstrand
David Weinlick dweinlick@dfl.org Staff - Party Affairs Director minnesota_dfl
David Wiesner vsosp@scc.net SD58 vsosp
Deb Hogenson hogenson@swwnet.com Nobles mndonkey
Deb Pitzrick dpitzrick@dflsd42.org SD42 dapitzrick
Del Jenkins deldjenkins@yahoo.com SEC/AA deldjenkins
Denise Anderson specialangell4u@aol.com SD57 thereisanangel4u2
Dennis Schneider denny@dennyls.com SD56 dennyls
Diane Bourgeois dianecb@visi.com SD62 dinaecbourgeois
Don Bye byelawoffice@hotmail.com CD8
Don Jorovsky donjorovsky@msn.com SD50 jorovsky
Donna Cassutt dcassutt@dfl.org; dcassutt@mn.rr.com Associate Chair dcassutt
Donovan Strong mnfirebuster@yahoo.com CU6 mnfirebuster
Doug Ohlendorf ohlen@umn.edu CD3 dougohlendorf
Drew Campbell drcsoup@aol.com SD23
Dusty Trice lakecountrydem@yahoo.com; triced@dnc.org Staff - CD3 lakecountrydem
Earl Netwal enetwal@mn.rr.com (SD62) enetwal
Ed Caffrey eacaffrey@comcast.net SEC/Platform eacaffrey
Ed Mars ed_mars@juno.com SD9
Eileen Weber weber058@umn.edu SD57 weber058
Elizabeth Wefel ewefel@yahoo.com SD64 ewefel
Eric Mitchell ericmitchell55401@yahoo.com SD66 ericmitchell55401
Erica Schumacher ericadfl@yahoo.com SD66 ericadfl
Evan Cordes demongarik@aol.com CD4 demongarik
Faith Kidder faith@plethora.net SD62 kidderfaith
Fredric Markus fmarkus@mn.rr.com SD61 markusfredric
George Greene unclegeo@bstock.com SD46
Georgiana Ruzich grsrb1@peoplepc.com CD3
Grace Kelly dflgracekelly@yahoo.com Director dflgracekelly
Harry McClanahan harrym@pragmaticsolutions.com SD44 harrymcclanahan
Howard Bass hbass@basspeck.com SD35 hbass1959
Jack Harris jackharris@mn.rr.com SD41
Jackie Stevenson jaxter34@aol.com DNC
Jacob Nelson politics@duskwave.net SD40 jnelson83
Jaime Tincher jtincher@dfl.org Staff - Voter File jaimetincher
Jamie Edwards soul_2_soul_revisited@yahoo.com Director soul_2_soul_revisited
Jan Weir janweir@chartermi.net Blue Earth weir1941
Jane Anderson jgaanderson@yahoo.com SD43 jgaanderson
Jane Dewing jldewing@earthlink.net SD44
Jane Kay janekay@bitstream.net SD43 jck2ski
Jane Miles janemmiles@msn.com CD2 jmjm55077
Janet Krueger janet.krueger@prodigy.net Olmsted puppy_play
Jason Barnett jasonbarnett@earthlink.net SD65 jsnbarnett
Jason Ruud ruudjr@juno.com (req 12-05-06)
Jean Schiebel gigi@tcq.net SD46
Jeanette Martimo jeanettemartimo@yahoo.com SD/CU7 jeanettemartimo
Jed Burkett jed@bitstream.net SD61 jed_dfl
Jeff Larson jdlarson@frontiernet.net SD16 jdlarson_99
Jennifer Edstrom jedstro@comcast.net SD45 jedstro2
Jeremy Kalin jeremy@kalin.com Elected/17B jnkstudio
Jerry Gilkeson mndemocrat@comcast.net SD63 fireflite58
Jess McIntosh jmcintosh@dfl.org Staff/ Communications Director
Jim Bryant jbryant@democrats.com SD67 kc5vdj
Jodi Sterud jssd11@yahoo.com SD11 jssd11
Jodie Benson sergeantdog@yahoo.com SD35 sergeantdog
Joel Bergstrom jpelebergstrom@yahoo.com SD60 joelebergstrom
Joel Jenson jjensen@jjensenlaw.com SD44
Joel Johnson joel.johnson@house.mn (req 12-05-06)
Joelle Riley jriley@lernerbooks.com SD58 joelleriley
John DeSantis john.desantis@charter.net SD32
John Miller peersupport@earthlink.net SD65
John Schultz SEC/Finance Chair ddddave91
John Sherman jsherman@visi.com SD66 jsherman602
Joyce LeClaire jleclaire@charter.net Sherburne c_jleclaire
Judi Gauch jgauch@charter.net SD23 magauch_56003
Judith Gibson judith@juno.com SD66 judiuth1
Jules Goldstein jgold@ties2.net SEC - Constitution julesgolds
Julianne Johnston julieannetj@msn.com SD54
Julie Albrecht julie.albrecht@gmail.com Beltrami juliemaealbrecht
Kareesha Lewis klewis@dflsd42.org SD42 kaylewisdfl
Karla Sand karlaviolets@hotmail.com SD55
Katherine Speer kcspeer@myclearwave.net Director kcspeer
Kathleen Murphy mkathleenmurphy@msn.com kathleenmurphy7
Kathy Farmer kathy_sd25@yahoo.com SD25 kathy_sd25
Kathy Nelson nelso309@umn.edu Director kathynelsondfl
Keesha Gaskins sixfngrs@yahoo.com Director sixfngrs
Ken Beck javalive@charterinternet.com CD2 maxamostetonia
Ken Reine reine_ken@yahoo.com Isanti reine_ken
Kim Kang kkang@qwest.net SD33 kimdakang
Kristi Gottwalt k_gottwalt@hotmail.com SD37 kristianne320
Larry Fonnest dawnviewt@yahoo.com SD45 dawnviewt
Laura Askelin cursedmonkeypaw@charter.net Olmsted cursedmonkeypawthing
Laura Nelson lauranelson@gmail.com SD66 l_nelson20@gmail.com
Laura Nevitt lmn1215@yahoo.com SD64 lmn1215
Laurel Resman laurel_resman@yahoo.com Mille Lacs Laurel_resman
Laurie Hilty lhilty@frontiernet.net SD8 ljh55735
Laurie Pryor lauriepryor@yahoo.com SD42 lauriepryor
Loki Anderson lokileague@yahoo.com SEC/Constitution lokileague
Lori Olson lorio@wiktel.com Director lorio56701
Lori Sellner lorisell@sleepyeyetel.net CD1 lorisell
Lorrie Adams lorrie.a.adams@charter.net SD19 adams_lorrie
Lucy Garrity lgarrity217@comcast.net SD39
Lynn Wilson lwilson154@charter.net Olmsted lwilson154
Mairie Sullivan brigidswells@yahoo.com SD64
Marc Asch marc@asch.org (SD53) marcasch
Marcia Ferris earthylady_brainerd@yahoo.com Crow Wing earthylady_brainerd
Marge Hoffa travalfie@aol.com CD3 travalfie
Margie Hoyt neolotus@gmail.com Watonwan margie_hoyt
Mari Pokornowski mariurnessp@yahoo.com SD18
Marjanas Callery marjanac@comcast.net SD56 doccallery
Mark Frederickson prairiefire4@earthlink.net Olmsted
Mark Viste markviste@yahoo.com SD46 markviste
Martha Wigmore newdlwig@mindspring.com CD6 martha_wigmore
Mary Anne Bryndal mabryn@comcast.net SD42
Mary Markwardt SD46 mmarkwardt1031
Megan Thomas thom0286@umn.edu Affirmative Action meganjanethomas
Michael Dean mpdean2002@yahoo.com SD66 mpdean2002
Michael Lewis demozine@hotmail.com SD64
Michelle Bonnett zoemakes5@yahoo.com SD38
Mike McIntee mmcintee@mac.com allnews364
Mike Meuers riverlot@paulbunyan.net Beltrami
Mike Rothman rothmans@mn.rr.com SEC/Constitution dflcommission
Mike Spellman spellman5593@msn.com SD53 spellmadem
Mohamed Jibrell mjibrell@mn.rr.com (req 12-05-06)
Nakiesha Mabrey nixnmm@yahoo.com SD58 niq4mydfl
Nancy Larson nanlars@ll.net or nanlarspottie@yahoo.com DNC nanlarspottie
Nancy Schumacher nancy236@msn.com CD6 ndsdfl
Nena Street nena.street@gmail.com CD5 nenastreet
Nick Kimball nkimball@dfl.org Staff/Communications nicholaskimball
Niel Ritchie nritchie@tcq.net Director
Norbert Gernes ngernes@yahoo.com SD42 ngernes
Norm Hanson rosevillehan3@aol.com SD54
PJ Voysey pjvoysey@yahoo.com SD37 pjvoysey
Pam McCrory mccrorypam@yahoo.com or skeeters@paulbunyun.net SD4 mccrorypam
Pamela Blixt pgblixt@comcast.net SD62 pgblixt
Paul Hoffinger paulhoffinger@aol.com SD38
Paul Jasmer PJasmer@CSBSJU.EDU SD14
Paul Wright paulw@hutchtel.net CD7
Peggy Hanson mjhanson@acegroup.cc Fillmore phanson.fillmore
Peter Berglund berglund463@hotmail.com SD54
Peter Wyckoff motowndemocratii@yahoo.com Stevens motowndemocratii
Phil Castrovinci philcastro44@yahoo.com Olmsted philcastro44
Polly Philblad pphilblad@mn.rr.com SD50 koffeekrazy
RT Grels rtgrels@comcast.net SD39 baldur7
Rebekah Smith smithrebekah@yahoo.com SD61 smithrebekah
Reggie Edwards reggiesara@aol.com Director
Ric Studer gandharva1@yahoo.com SD15 gandharva1
Rich Kramer rjfkramer@aol.com SD67 eastsidekramer
Richard Blake rkblake13@yahoo.com Itasca rkblake13
Richard Carlbom rcarlbom@dfl.org CD6 Field Organizer sixthcdfield
Rick Moran rickmoran@yahoo.com SD58 rickmoran
Rick Nelson rnelson@faegre.com CD3
Rick Stafford rickatmpls@msn.com DNC
Rita Albrecht ritaalbrecht@charter.net ritaplus3
Robert Young Walser seasongs@spacestar.net SD60 bobyoungwalser
Rod Halvorson halvorrod@yahoo.com Ramsey halvorrod
Rodney Olsen rolsen6376@visi.com SD64 rolsen6376
Ron Mazurowski teacherron@msn.com SD56 ronmazurowski
RoseAnn Zimbro rzimbro@dfl.org Staff/Outreach roseannezimbro
Ruthann Rintala Sawanson ruthann@ars-services.com SD59
Sally Burns sallymb@aol.com SD42 sallymburns
Sam Nelson snelson2@tds.net Kandiyohi
Sara Reller s7r4@insani-x.com SD65 nadia_moadib
Scott Wells sdwells1@yahoo.com SD15 sdwells1
Sean Broom sdbroom1982@yahoo.com MYDFL
Sharon Rickert sharon@holoweb.com (CD6)
Shawn Groth ssng12@hotmail.com Rice
Shelley Madore madore@frontiernet.net Elected/37A shelley37a
Sky Miles skylarkmiles@msn.com SD39 smiles5199
Steve Nelson srnelson@paulbunyan.net srnelson2003
Steven Linnerooth stevendl2000@yahoo.com Chisago stevendl2000
SuJay Rao srao@gac.edu Nicollet sujayrao02476
Sue Moravec sue@mn.rr.com SD34
Sue Moravec suemoravec@comcast.net SD34 suemoravec
Sue Moravec suemoravec@comcast.net SD34 suemoravec
Sunday Alibi sundaebobo@yahoo.com SD47 sundaebobo
Susan Rego regofam@earthlink.net Secretary regofam
Susette Skog family4peace@msn.com SD38 sskog1
Ted Anderson Staff
Terri Griffiths tjgriffiths@charter.net SD7
Terry Kroke tlkroke@yahoo.com Clay tlkroke
Therese Barnett therese1b@yahoo.com Rice
Thomas Kurhajetz thomaskurhajetz@frontiernet.net Pine krhjtz
Tim Bonham t-bonham@scc.net SD62 t_bonham_scc
Tim Morse tim@morse.net CD4 timber6as7
Tim Ward tim@wardo.net SD56 wardo78
Tina Liebling tliebling@charter.net Elected/30A tliebling
Tom Hamilton baldeagl18@comcast.net CD5 baldeagl7856
Tom Laforce tmforce@aol.com tom_laforce
Tom Ross tomeross@comcast.net SD43 arthurpendragone
Tony Doom tony@tonydoom.com SD21
Vici Oshiro vicio@visi.com (SD40)
Vicki Wright vickiwright@comcast.net; vwright225@comcast.net SD38 wrightvh
Vincent Lynch mowercountydfl@smig.net Mower vincent_lynch2002
Vivian Votava oldladyslater@yahoo.com SD56 oldladyslater
Wayne Pulford wlpulford@yahoo.com Director wlpulford
